Latest news with #Ionity
South Wales Argus
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Newport £6M transport investment met with criticism
Announced earlier this year in April, the Welsh Government funding will go towards a range of projects, including developing active travel networks, expanding electric vehicle charging points, and improving bus infrastructure. However, the response from local people has been mixed, with social media users voicing frustration that basic road repairs are not being prioritised. Many residents took to Facebook to express their criticism. One reader said: "We just want our roads resurfaced." Another agreed, adding: "Need to fix the roads we have, before anything else." This sentiment was echoed repeatedly, with Ken Blacoe saying: "Start with the potholes in the roads," and Christine Jones stating: "How about using this money on fixing the potholes. Their priorities are definitely out of sink." Complaints extended beyond potholes, with some questioning the focus on active travel and electric vehicle infrastructure. One reader commented: "Forget about more roadside slow chargers that no knew will use. "Set aside 12 parking places at the sports village, it's rarely fully used. "Go to ionity and offer them fast track planning. "Then we can have cheap ultracharging at 43p matching the price of petrol and diesel. "Ionity will pay for the installation and pay rent to the council. "Quick charging for EVs at no cost to the taxpayer and bringing in an income for the council. "Next problem please... It only needs a bit of common sense." The decision to allocate £1 million from the resilient roads fund to continue work on Bassaleg Bridge also drew criticism, with one reader saying: "Apparently, the rebuilding of the essential Bassaleg bridge will be put off for at least another year or so, because the £1M that the WAG has given to do the work is not enough. "The WAG can only find £1M for the bridge, but 'found' over £83M to make changes to the Senedd building so that 36 extra MSs could be subjectively added." Others raised concerns about the overall state of the city's roads and the effectiveness of recent transport spending. One person wrote: "The roads are in a disgusting, dangerous state," while another questioned the value of new cycle lanes: "What a waste of money. "Where they not paying attention when Cardiff spent millions installing bike lanes that no one uses? "Now they want to put them in a dying town centre? "The logic escapes me." Despite the criticism, there were some supportive voices. Marc Carlton said: "A lot of moaning here but I'm not sure why. "More charging points - who can quibble with that? "Better cycle routes? "I see so many people in Newport that look like the side of a house that the more of them that get on a bike the better (for them and their health)." The council has yet to respond to the volume of concerns about road repairs and priorities, but with £6.8 million soon to be spent, many Newport residents will be watching closely to see if their calls for action are heard.
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Electric vehicle Q&A: Which EV charging point apps do I need?
Q: How do I keep track of public charging points? There are at least three different apps on my phone already; do I need one for every charging network? – D Hurley, Co Cork A: This is a perennially tricky question, and it highlights the inherent problem of trying to mix public and private investment for something as all-encompassing as electric motoring . The annoying fact is that there isn't just one app that will cover you for all eventualities, so you might need to upgrade to a phone with more storage space. In theory, you shouldn't need any apps at all. The EU's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which came into force in April 2024, requires all charging points to have a simple tap-and-go payment system for using credit and debit cards. So it should mean you don't need any app, just a contactless debit card. Of course, it's never that simple. For a start, the AFIR rules apply only to charging points installed since April 2024, which means there are still plenty out there that don't have tap-and-go payments. READ MORE Secondly, the charging providers are eager to secure your custom and will offer you the best prices for charging only if you sign up to use their apps and/or specific RFID cards, and usually only if you also pay a monthly subscription fee. In fairness to the ESB, whose e-Cars programme has received plenty of criticism on these pages over the years, they're not the worst in this respect – there's around a 5c per kWh difference between the pay-as-you-go price, and the subscription price, although even that adds up pretty quickly if you're charging a car with a big battery. Much worse are the likes of Ionity , who will charge you the guts of 80c per kWh unless you sign up to a monthly subscription. At those prices, running an old diesel remains cheaper ... What the EU's AFIR rules missed out on was forcing the charging providers to always charge the lowest possible rate for tap-and-go. Don't see that happening any time soon. So, the best apps to have on your phone are the following. The ESB e-Cars app helps you find all the ESB chargers. You can set up an account (even a free pay-as-you-go one) through the app and use it to activate any of the company's chargers. It's worth having a physical RFID card too, though, in case you end up trying to charge in an area with low or no mobile phone signal. [ EV home charging pilot fails to address critical issue Opens in new window ] The same goes for the EasyGo app, which again helps you find one of their myriad charging points, and turns it on for you as long as you've set up an account. Get the RFID card, though, because EasyGo has some chargers in underground car parks which are frequently impossible to activate by phone. For all its costly charging, the Ionity app is worth having, and if you're a regular long-haul driver then signing up for a monthly subscription is worth the cash, as you will get a much cheaper per-kWh charging rate. The Fastned app is worth having if you're planning to travel to Europe or the UK, although most of their very rapid (up to 400kW) chargers only accept tap-and-go these days, with no discounts available. If you're heading abroad, ignore the BP Pulse app and its chargers – we've found them to be the most unreliable and infuriating we've ever tried to use. Zap-Map is a well known app, and is certainly worth having as it lists pretty much all charging points across Europe and even the US, and it's agnostic as to the network. You can use it to pay for some chargers by setting up an account, but just be aware that some of the information on locations and charging availability is crowd-sourced, so it's not always accurate and up to date. When we finally have a sufficient number of charging points, that won't matter so much, but right now it can be frustrating to arrive at a supposed charging location to find that it's either out of order or simply doesn't exist any more. [ China's CATL says it has overtaken BYD on 5-minute EV battery charging time Opens in new window ] Finally, if you've bought a new EV, you should definitely have the app from the company that made your car. These will often help you find charging points, and can help with payments too, including setting up plug-and-pay accounts that can avoid the need for cards, either credit or RFID. The car will have an account assigned to it, via the app, and some chargers will simply recognise that and start charging as soon as they're connected. Some car brands also offer discounted – or even some inclusive – charging with a new car purchase, so make sure you're set up for all of that. A blizzard of apps? Afraid so, at least until charging points are (a) more populous and (b) significantly more affordable.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Charging as a Service Market worth $2,135.0 million in 2035, Globally, at a CAGR of 29.1%, says MarketsandMarkets™
Delray Beach, FL, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Charging as a Service Market is projected to grow from USD 165.9 million in 2025 to USD 2,135.0 million in 2035, at a CAGR of 29.1%, as per the recent study by MarketsandMarkets™. The Charging as a Service (CaaS) market is influenced by factors like EV adoption, government policies, infrastructure investment, energy costs, urbanization, and technology advancements. Government rules, such as subsidies, emission targets, and mandatory charging stations, drive market growth. Private companies and public-private partnerships help develop charging networks. Further, energy prices and grid capacity affect the cost and operation of charging services. Cities with limited parking rely more on public and workplace charging. Businesses in logistics, ride-hailing, and corporate fleets need fast and scalable charging solutions. Consumer preferences, payment options like pay-per-use and subscriptions, and improvements in battery and charging technology also shape the market. Browse in-depth TOC on 'Charging as a Service Market' 110 - Tables80 - Figures260 – Pages Download PDF Brochure: List of Key Players in Charging as a Service Market: ChargePoint, Inc. (US) Tesla (US) ENGIE (France) TGOOD Global Ltd. (China) State Grid Corporation of China (China) Drivers, Opportunities and Challenges in Charging as a Service Market: Driver: Collaborations between local companies and charge point operators Restraint: Grid capacity constraints Opportunity: Advent of shared charging solutions in multi-unit dwellings Challenge: Lack of standardization and protocols Key Findings of the Study: DC charger to be fastest-growing segment during forecast period Shared apartment spaces to lead semi-public charging segment during forecast period Asia Pacific to be largest market for Charging as a Service during forecast period Get Sample Pages: Auto-dealerships and OEM operated charging spaces to hold the significant share in semi-public charging setup segment. OEM partnerships with Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and EV charging strategies for auto dealerships are driving the expansion of EV infrastructure. From 2021 to 2023, major OEMs formed key collaborations to enhance charging access. In July 2023, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Stellantis, and GM announced a joint venture to build a high-power charging network in North America. Around the same time, Hyundai, Volvo, Polestar, GM, and Ford secured access to Tesla's NACS Supercharger network, enabling their EVs to use Tesla's charging infrastructure. Earlier in the year, Mercedes-Benz launched a charging network in collaboration with ChargePoint. In 2022, Hyundai expanded its Ionity partnership in Europe, GM integrated multiple CPOs into its Ultium Charge 360 network, and Rivian developed its Adventure Network alongside Electrify America. In December 2024, ChargePoint and General Motors announced plans to install up to 500 ultra-fast EV charging ports across the U.S. under the GM Energy brand. The network is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. Also, these chargers will feature ChargePoint's Omni Port system, allowing vehicles with CCS or NACS connectors to charge without an adapter. The deployment will also include ChargePoint's Express Plus platform, offering charging speeds up to 500kW. 'North America is expected to be the significant Charging as a Service market by 2035.' Charging as a Service in North America is expanding due to investments in infrastructure, technology, and partnerships. The expansion of Charging as a Service in North America has improved EV accessibility, reduced charging downtime, and supported grid stability. OEMs and charging providers are adding high-power charging networks. For instance, in February 2024, Ionna, a joint venture by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, General Motors, Stellantis, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia, planned to install 30,000 high-power chargers in the region. Tesla is expanding its Supercharger network and has started opening it to non-Tesla EVs. ChargePoint and Electrify America continue to expand Level 2 and DC fast-charging stations. The launch of Ionna and the expansion of Tesla's Supercharger network have increased the availability of high-power chargers, reducing range anxiety for EV owners. The decision to open Tesla Superchargers to non-Tesla vehicles has also improved interoperability, benefiting a wider range of EV users. CPOs such as ChargeScape are backed by OEMs like Ford, Honda, BMW, and Nissan, to utilize the energy and supply power to the grid. Many CPOs are improving infrastructure through software and partnerships. For instance, Monta, a Danish software company, entered the U.S. market in 2024 to manage one million charging points. Further, Flo, a Canadian CPO, is expanding its North American presence with fleet, commercial, and residential charging solutions. Software-driven infrastructure management by Monta and Flo has optimized network reliability, ensuring better uptime for public and private charging stations. Also, Volta Charging, now owned by Shell, offers ad-supported public charging in high-traffic locations. Volta Charging's ad-supported model has made public charging more cost-effective, encouraging EV adoption in urban areas. Inquiry Before Buying: Recent Developments: In December 2024, Tesla (US) launched the Megapack Charger Station with four Megapack Chargers in the US to support increased travel during the holiday season. In November 2024, ChargePoint introduced the ChargePoint Essential cloud plan as an alternative to traditional cloud subscriptions. Instead of a fixed subscription fee, the software cost is covered by user-charging payments, with any extra revenue going to the station owner. This plan reduces upfront costs, making EV charging more accessible to customers. In October 2024, EVBox (France), an ENGIE (France) subsidiary, collaborated with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to install EV charging stations at state parks, museums, and beaches across Illinois. EVBox donated 40 charging stations to provide EV drivers convenient access to charging facilities throughout the state. In September 2024, ChargePoint introduced an AI-powered driver support tool to diagnose and repair charging stations. It is the first AI-driven system in the EV charging industry designed to detect and resolve charger issues, enhancing reliability. In June 2024, TELD New Energy (China), a subsidiary of TGOOD Global Ltd. (China), collaborated with ENEOS Corporation to develop EV charging stations and microgrid solutions in China. Both companies aim to establish a joint venture in Beijing, with each company holding a 50% stake. Related Reports: EV Charging Station Market Wireless Charging Market Electric Commercial Vehicle Market CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets™ MarketsandMarkets™ has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets™ is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines – TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore™, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts. In addition, MarketsandMarkets SalesIQ enables sales teams to identify high-priority accounts and uncover hidden opportunities, helping them build more pipeline and win more deals with precision. To find out more, visit or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets™ INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445, USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@ Visit Our Website:
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ionity targets company car fleets as network doubles in size
New EV charge card unlocks discounted rates for fleets Ionity has launched an EV charge card with discounted rates for fleets as part of an effort to attract time-sensitive business drivers to its fast-growing network of rapid-charging hubs. The manufacturer-backed network is installing 500 additional chargers in the UK this year, more than doubling the 379 already operating across the country. Each of its hubs has at least six 350kW ultra-high-speed chargers, to reduce the risk of queueing, and they're powered by 100% renewable energy, supporting businesses' ever-tougher sustainability targets. Following requests from customers, Ionity Fleet offers similar benefits to the Ionity Passport subscription schemes, which discount the standard rate of 74p/kWh to as little as 43p/kWh for the top-tier £10.50 monthly membership option. For a single-motor Tesla Model Y Long Range (the UK's best-selling EV last year), that's enough to slash per-mile energy costs from 17p to 9p and recoup the subscription fee within 150 miles, based on its published efficiency data. However, that's still higher than the HMRC-approved 7p-per-mile Advisory Electric Rate (AER) that drivers can expense for business mileage. Fleets can set their own milage rates but risk additional scrutiny to avoid any excess being classed as taxable income. Ionity Fleet offers even cheaper rates for fleets while cutting the 'unnecessary bureaucracy' involved with expensing charging costs, according to Andreas Atkins, the company's country manager for the UK and Ireland. It issues each driver with unique RFID card, providing discounted tap-and-go access to the chargers, then aggregates everyone's costs into a single monthly invoice and itemises sessions so that (if necessary) they can be allocated to different departments and teams. Fleets can restrict access to a single country or allow drivers to plug in at any of Ionity's 4800 chargers across Europe. Businesses with more than 250 vehicles can add their own branding to the cards, Ionity doesn't collect personal information to avoid issues with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements. 'Many fleet customers proactively reached out to us, expressing the need for direct access to our charging stations at competitive rates," said Atkins. "This was particularly important for SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] with routine repetitive routes, who recognise that Ionity charging locations align well with their operations. 'Generally, businesses want to take advantage of Ionity Passport packages, but these were designed for private use only, leading to administrative complications. With Ionity Fleet, we have solved this.' ]]>
